My CEO 126

176 Cabral 24 Hour

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126 Critical 24 Hours

(Winona)

Dr. Green steps out into the hospital room, his expression a blend of exhaustion and gravity. I brace myself for the worst news,

"Dr. Green, how is he?" Judy's voice is barely more than a whisper laced with desperation and fear.

He takes a deep breath, his eyes meeting mine with a look that says it all. "Jayden is critical right now. He's lost a lot of blood. We performed emergency surgery to remove the bullet. He coded twice on the table, but we were able to stabilize him. But if there'd been a third time, we'd have lost him."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Judy gasps, her hand flying to her mouth.

Dr. Green continues, "The bullet lodged up behind his heart, luckily. The angle he was on saved him but there's extensive lung and artery damage"

"Is he... is he going to get through this?" I manage to ask, my voice trembling.

Dr. Green hesitates, glancing between us. "I honestly don't know. He's in an induced coma. It's a standard procedure to give his body a chance to heal without any stress. We won't know more until the swelling goes down. If he gets through the next 24 hours, he has a real chance."

Come on Jayden. Don't give up now, I think

"Did he... did he suffer brain damage?" Judy asks, her voice breaking.

won't know the extent of any potential damage until he wakes up. But we need to prepare for the fact that Jayden may

he has no memory again when he wakes up? "Dr. Green, will this set him back

and if

sit

hours," Dr. Green continues. "His body needs time to recover. If he makes it through, we can start to reassess his condition and

a hospital bed, fighting for his life. He has to do this alone. My chest tightens with fear. I

to stay here. I need to be close to

her not just as the fierce woman who's been my adversary, but as

for her. Despite everything, she loves

to go home to

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120 Critical 24 Hour

in the morning to see how he's going." My daughter is just the tonic I need

moving out and there's no chance of us ever being anything

you've had enough excitement for one day. Ladies, just pray he gets through the night. I'll be

looks at me, panic flickering in her tear-filled eyes. "I... I don't

have a car here. I need to get home to Abby. She'd love to see you. You're welcome to come and spend some time with her. It might help the time pass."

"I'm sure."

a tear slipping down her cheek. "Thank you. And... I'm sorry for everything. For how I've treated

it's true. Do I believe that she'll feel this way later on? I'm not sure I'd go that far yet. My eyes are still wide open where

I

to admit, it feels good

my messed up clothes and put them in the bag my new clothes came in. As I pass the nurses station, I make sure Dr. Green has given me the go ahead to leave. He has. I can't wait to go home and see Abby and be free. Judy and I walk outside together in silence, and

say, my voice shaky. "Jayden... he's in a

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